No-fault evictions will be banned under government plans - but that’s too late for the 118 Devon residents who had their homes repossessed under Section 21 last year.

Section 21 notices allow landlords to evict tenants without a reason after their fixed-term tenancy ends.

Tenants can be asked to leave with two months’ notice – with campaigners saying the threat of a no-fault eviction means tenants are discouraged from treating their property as a long-term home, and even from complaining about disrepair.

The law makes revenge evictions possible - where renters lose their homes after asking for repairs or making complaints.

Although there are no figures for the total number of Section 21 notices issued, the Ministry of Justice does publish information on cases where the landlord has gone to court to enforce such a notice.

They show in 2018, landlords made 366 claims for an accelerated possession order, where tenants had not left by the date specified in the Section 21 notice.

There were 289 court orders issued against tenants, allowing landlords to apply for a warrant for the tenants’ eviction, and 139 warrants issued last year.

In total, 118 families in Devon had their homes repossessed under Section 21. The number of no-fault evictions was similar to 2017, when 117 families were removed from their homes under the law.

The government decision to scrap Section 21 comes following a campaign by a coalition of renter unions and housing campaigns.

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“This change will slam the brakes on unstable short-term tenancies and give tenants everywhere a massive boost in security, for which the government will deserve great credit.

“One in four families now privately rent their home, as do hundreds of thousands of older people. And yet, we frequently hear from people with contracts shorter than your average gym membership, who live in constant fear of being thrown out at the drop of a hat.

“Ending Section 21 evictions will transform these renters’ lives – giving them room to breathe and put down roots in a place they can finally call home.

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“Getting this new legislation through parliament is critical to people being able to stay in their rented home as long as they need, so we look forward to the government passing this law as quickly as possible.”

Nationally, figures show that Section 21 repossessions have been trending downwards - from a high of 4,482 in the third quarter of 2015 to a low of 2,372 in the third quarter of 2018 - though that rose to 2,408 by the end of the year.

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Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, said: “By abolishing these kinds of evictions, every single person living in the private rented sector will be empowered to make the right housing choice for themselves – not have it made for them.

“And this will be balanced by ensuring responsible landlords can get their property back where they have proper reason to do so.

“We are making the biggest change to the private rental sector in a generation.

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“We are creating homes, opportunities and thriving communities, where people can come together and put down roots, bound by a strong sense of belonging.

“Everyone has a right to the opportunities they need to build a better life. For many, this means having the security and stability to make a place truly feel like home without the fear of being evicted at a moments’ notice. We are building a fairer housing market that truly works for everyone.”

Dan Wilson Craw, director of Generation Rent said the government had listened to renters and made the right decision.